Harare — Colonel Assimi Goita, the head of Mali's military, spoke by phone with Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, about the situation in Niger, where Mohamed Bazoum was deposed on July 26 by a coup. Putin "stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution of the situation for a more stable Sahel", Goita wrote on Twitter. Since Bazoum was overthrown, democratic African governments have demanded that he be put back in office, however, the coup leaders are rejecting all attempts at negotiations. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the primary regional organization, threatened to undertake a military intervention if diplomacy fails. West African army chiefs will gather in Ghana to prepare for this possibility on Thursday and Friday this week.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 16, 2023 16:08 UTC